@DG how so? Most likely it will be superseded by the next Xbox so unless MS are going to allow some sort of upgrade path (not likely) or make the X the base for next gen (possible given the idea of a "family" of devices) getting an X to future proof does not seem like a good idea.

Review

Cooler Master CK550

A mid-range keyboard with precision for victory!

The Cooler Master CK550 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is their mid-range offering in their Mechanical Gaming Keyboard line-up, with the CK350 as their base offering and the MK 750 as their premium offering. The CK550 is the predecessor of the CK350 and is a fantastic keyboard, perfect for those who do not want the ultimate experience, but are after something a little bit more than the essentials.

The Specs

The Cooler Master CK550 sports Gateron RED linear key switches, which feel similar to the Outemu RED switches with a little more springiness. The Gateron RED Key Switches have been rated for 50 million+ key strokes, making them incredibly durable, and is available in Red, Blue, and Brown switches, which will be coming in soon (we tested the Red switch variant).

The CK 550 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard sports a standard layout size (incl. NUM pad), giving you the freedom to customise your keycaps if you would like. The CK 550 also features per-key RGB backlighting, with easy, on-the-fly controls for you to adjust as you game. However, there are also 16 effect modes you can use to showcase your custom colouring, making your gaming experience truly unique.

The CK 550 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard boasts a 460 x 135 x 41 mm dimension, weighing just 900g, along with a gunmetal, brushed aluminium finish, giving the keyboard a minimalistic design. Enough about specs though, let’s get into the meat of it.

The Performance

The Cooler Master CK550 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard was a welcomed replacement to my daily gaming keyboard. The Gateron Red Linear Switches are easy to type on, and even easier to game with. Now, the question of whether or not Gateron is better than industry-leader Cherry MX is actually more subjective than you might think. Personally, I prefer the Cherry MX Red switches but I have met a number of people who swear by the Gateron, and even Outemu, switches, so while I might say that the Cherry MX switches are preferable over the Gateron in the CK 550, to some it might not matter. Objectively, however, there was no real performance gain over each, so it boils down to personal preference on the feel of the switch.

Thanks to the Hybrid Rollover in the CK 550, there was no missing key presses and zero ghosting as well. Basically, while in-game, I never encountered an issue where my key presses didn’t register an action on the screen; a benefit of the Red linear switch as there is minimal resistance to the key press, whereas Blue and Brown switch have the tactile bump, which might cause some mistakes if you aren’t used to using these types of switches.

Reloading in these titles [Overwatch and CS:GO], and using the action key (E) felt more like a flick rather than a key press, which was amazing. Also, despite the high-profile keycaps, my presses never took longer than 3ms to register on-screen, so if you are slow key presser, then you might encounter longer times, but that is no fault on the board itself.

My reaction time and movement on screen was greatly improved compared to my daily, and even the CK 350 – although less noticeable – especially in fast-paced, twitchy shooters such as CS:GO and Overwatch, where I was actually able to strafe left and right in quick succession in order to avoid being shot. Unfortunately, my skills still aren’t great so I ended up dying anyway, but the CK 550 assisted in my slightly extended survival. Reloading in these titles, and using the action key (E) felt more like a flick rather than a key press, which was amazing. Also, despite the high-profile keycaps, my presses never took longer than 3ms to register on-screen, so if you are slow key presser, then you might encounter longer times, but that is no fault on the board itself.

Outside of gaming, I used the CK 550 in daily tasks, mainly typing (obviously), to see if this keyboard could be used as an all-in-one PC accessory. Typing was great, thanks to the Gateron Red Linear Switches, which made typing an exercise in gliding rather than tedious key pressing, almost like a real-life Swiftkey keyboard. The high-profile keycaps synonymous with gaming mechanical keyboards were the only issue, but the keyboard itself had no issues with missing key presses. A low-profile keycap variant would be a welcomed revision, as some keyboards are now starting to move towards, but my fingers never felt fatigued from typing all day, and then transitioning to gaming in the evening.

The Aesthetics

We touched on the aesthetics a little bit earlier on in the review, but keyboards have become just as much an aesthetic accessory as they are a functional one. Keyboards are designed with various set-ups in mind, and I think Cooler Master has got a good formula with the CK550.

The brushed aluminium gunmetal finish gives the keyboard a premium look and feel, making it as durable as the key switches they have used.

The brushed aluminium gunmetal finish gives the keyboard a premium look and feel, making it as durable as the key switches they have used. The minimalist design allows the CK 550 to pair beautifully with any system set-up (unless you have an all-white set-up), making your desk look elegant, yet ready to perform.

The per-key RGB lighting allows custom variation to truly personalise your experience, with a range of 16.7 million colours and 16 effects to choose from. Cooler Master have even gone overboard, I would say, because the beautiful RGB Spiral is a perfect preset for any occasion. However, I like customising my lighting for each game, so I loved just playing with the settings.

Overall, the Cooler Master CK550 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a perfect step-up from the essentials, giving us a little more than the CK350. The Gateron switches are more comfortable over the long run, and depending on personal preference, they are the better choice. The CK 550 has a stunning aesthetic and fits in well with almost any set-up, and the customisable RGB lighting lets your personality and mood shine.